Glove Ratings 101 Knowledge Base Poster from GME Supply

Gloves are tested and rated in a few different ways. Next to many gloves you’ll see a shield with four numbers. This is the EN388 shield. The EN388 standard is a great measurement of a gloves protection level. Use this guide to determine how your glove of choice stacks up in four important categories.

ABRASION – This is based on the number of cycles required to break down the glove. The protection is rated on a scale of 1 to 4. The higher the number, the better the glove.

CUT RESISTANCE – Based on the number of cycles required to cut through the glove. This scale is rated 1 to 5, with a Cut 5 glove providing the best protection.

TEAR – Rated 1 to 4 with 1 being the easiest to tear, and 4 being the most tear resistant.

PUNCTURE – Based on the amount of force required to pierce the material of the glove. 1 puncture easily, a 4 glove provides the most protection.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has released a new edition of the ANSI / ISEA 105 Standard (2016 ed.) The changes create new classification levels, which includes a new scale to determine cut score, and a revised method for testing gloves to the standard.

The new ANSI standard now features nine cut levels significantly reducing the gaps between each level and better defining protection levels for the cut resistant gloves and sleeves with the highest gram score. The new standard spans from 0 g to 6,000 g of cut protection. It’s tested by determining how much weight is required to cut through the glove material by a blade travelling 20 mm across the surface of the material.

Based on the chart below, A1 rated gloves provide the least protection, while A9 provide the greatest. Look for the new ANSI Cut Score badge throughout the catalog.